With the college basketball season inching closer, we’ll be taking a long look at the conference at large as well as Indiana’s roster over the next few weeks. Today, we complete our look at our preseason All-Big Ten team with Purdue’s Robbie Hummel.

For Purdue fans, it’s hard to not to think of what may have been the last two seasons with a healthy Robbie Hummel.

When Hummel tore the ACL in his right knee against Minnesota on February 25, 2010, the Boilermakers were 24-3 and riding a 10-game winning streak. Sans Hummel, Purdue immediately dropped a crucial home game to Michigan State and then suffered an embarrassing 27-point loss to the Golden Gophers in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. A season that once looked like it could end at Lucas Oil Stadium instead finished with a loss to Duke in the Sweet 16.

Hope was renewed in the fall of 2010 as Hummel was deemed healthy to return and Matt Painter’s club also welcomed back E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson for their senior seasons after flirtations with the NBA Draft.

That optimism was short lived as the Valparaiso native re-tore his right ACL on the first day of practice. Many preseason prognostications had Purdue among the country’s top three teams with a healthy Hummel. Without him, Purdue went on to a 26-8 season and a loss to VCU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

So what should we expect from Hummel as he attempts to regain his form for one final run in West Lafayette? Quite a bit, if he can remain on the floor.

Looking at Hummel’s advanced statistics profile on KenPom for the 27 games he played as a junior reveals just how valuable he was to the Boilermakers. He was the most efficient shooter of the big three (52.9 eFG percentage), turned it over the least (turnover rate of just 8.6 percent) and knocked down 90 percent of his free throws.

He also led Purdue in defensive rebounding percentage (20.8 percent) and was fourth overall in the conference. Despite missing the final three regular season Big Ten games, he was a first team All-Big Ten selection. And without him, Purdue finished the final eight games of the 2009-2010 season with a 5-3 record.

Assuming Hummel is once again healthy (and indications are that he will be), his production should pick up close to where it left off prior to his injuries. If that’s the case, that should be enough to land him among the league’s top five players and one of the better “feel good” stories in all of college basketball this winter.

I really did feel sorry for Hummel and Purdon’t after that last injury. It was truly the worst 5 seconds of my life.

All of that talent for the last two years and two early exits in the tourney. What a shame. With this being the case, should they not be referred to as “Purdon’t?” As in, they “don’t” have a chance to win a National Championship? The shoe fits my little Lafayette friends. Go ahead and wear it.

Anonymous

Very odd feeling when I heard the news. One one side I felt very bad for Robbie and on the other I could not help myself from rejoicing in Purdue’s misfortune. No disrespect to a great guy, but I believe the latter trumped the former.

Joe B

If you’re a fan of basketball you’ve got to hope this guy stays healthy this year. That being said, the likelihood of him performing at the level he did before his first ACL tear is doubtful. Indiana fans can use Mo Creek as an example. So, Purdue will be way down even with a healthy Hummel, IMO.

Anonymous

Class kid..wish him well..jsut wish people were doing stories on Mo Creek. Other than the Yahoo interview Crean did last week..which was anything but encouraging..the mystery continues.

MillaRed

Just received terrible news. LaQuinton Ross, top 50 Rivals FR at Ohio State is ineligible for the upcoming season. Is there no justice in the world!

Anonymous

My in-laws know the Hummel family very well. A wholesome family and a very bright and humble young man. I wish him well. But as for Painter and the overall team play, I wish them a 12th place finish. Some may think that I’m unfairly biased when I say this; but I’ve atttended many college games on various campuses, and Purdue fans are the worst of the worst.